Chapter Sixty-Four: Joy Every Day

Returning to the old place, but this time at night, they set out at eight o’clock. The mountain winds at night were particularly cold, and they traveled through the remote mountain regions, winding along the roads in their car. For two whole hours, He Zhixing drove nonstop, the vibration of the steering wheel numbing his hands. Thankfully, Lai Madman kept him company, constantly chatting and asking He Zhixing to recount his past adventures. Lai Madman was especially fond of He Zhixing’s stories about treasure hunting.

When He Zhixing spoke of his trip to Meixian with Elder Chen, Lai Madman was filled with longing and complained about not being taken along. He hadn’t imagined treasure hunting could be so exciting and perilous.

Entering the forest, the night grew heavier, as if even the stars were lazy, hiding behind the mountains and trees, refusing to appear when most desired. Fortunately, the two kept each other entertained and didn’t feel too desolate.

If it were girls, they probably wouldn’t dare to walk the mountain paths at night—the mist in the forest was gloomy, the night was silent and chilly, and strange bird cries echoed from time to time. The headlights illuminated only a few meters ahead. Who in the countryside would willingly venture out at night? Wasn’t that courting misery?

They didn’t drive straight to the village gate but stopped outside and carefully entered on foot. Soon, they found the stone slab by the river. At that moment, the village dogs barked fiercely. He Zhixing urged Madman to quickly get into the water, then told him to lie beside the slab while he dove beneath.

The stone was deep underwater—more than half a man’s height, quite large for such a river. He Zhixing reached the riverbed but found nothing at first, just the large stone itself. He searched beneath it as one might search for fish, clearing away the loose stones pressed against its base. Once the smaller stones were removed, he discovered a hollow beneath the big stone—could it be a natural stone cauldron? Was it hollow inside?

With this thought, He Zhixing stopped holding his breath underwater and surfaced. Lai Madman whispered, “How is it?”

He Zhixing quietly shared his theory, which Lai Madman understood. Then, He Zhixing explained how he would grab the hollowed area beneath the stone and try to flip it over.

Lai Madman moved aside, and He Zhixing dove back in, grasped the stone, and with a mighty heave, turned it over. The massive stone, weighing seven or eight hundred pounds, was upended. Sure enough, it was hollow inside—a clay jar lay concealed within. He lifted the jar and opened it: inside, to his astonishment, were gold, silver, jewels, and ethnic ornaments—hairpins, coral, agate, pearls, gold, and silver. The gold and silver were most abundant, more than half of the treasure.

No wonder it was so heavy and had remained sealed under the river for so long—it was the weight of gold.

Lai Madman was about to shout, but He Zhixing quickly covered his mouth and told him to be silent. After flipping the stone back into place, they quietly carried the jar of treasure away.

Driving away from the Miao village, Lai Madman finally couldn’t contain his excitement and cheered, “Oh, it really is gold and jewels! I can’t believe our luck!”

By the time they returned home to Jinji Ridge in the city, dawn was breaking. Their grandfather was awakened by the commotion and was astonished to see the jar of treasure. After examining it, he returned to bed, leaving He Zhixing and his companion to enjoy a simple noodle breakfast before collapsing into a deep sleep together in He Zhixing’s room.

The sun was well up when Yufang woke them. She and Suqing had waited at Aunt Zhang’s house, but seeing He Zhixing hadn’t returned, they came to ask grandfather, who told them the two had come back before dawn and were still sleeping.

He Zhixing, now rested, rose as his beloved wife entered. Yufang and Suqing threw themselves into his arms, as if a day apart felt like three years. After embracing them, he noticed Lai Min’s tearful expression and Aunt Zhang’s wistful look. He quickly beckoned them, “Come over.”

He Zhixing hugged Lai Min, who finally smiled in satisfaction. Aunt Zhang let out a surprised gasp as He Zhixing pulled her into his arms, offering her a warm embrace.

Aunt Zhang inhaled his scent, feeling comfortable and slowly closing her eyes. She hadn’t expected to feel so attached to this young man, nor to have lost any sense of resistance—was she falling for him?

Embarrassed by her thoughts, she nestled into his embrace, listening to the sound of He Zhixing kissing Lai Min nearby, blushing even more fiercely, unable to lift her head. Grandfather had already slipped away.

Just as she was about to break free, He Zhixing lifted her shy face and pressed his lips to hers. A strange sensation washed over her, emboldening her to respond. Their tongues entwined, and after a long moment, they parted.

The three women nearby uttered incredulous sounds of admiration, clicking their tongues. Aunt Zhang, now showing her feminine side, complained, “Oh, stop laughing…”

She glanced at the three women, then at He Zhixing, and said, “This is all your fault—you made me look foolish!”

She playfully pinched He Zhixing’s waist, making him cry out in mock pain, his pitiful expression finally convincing her to let go and join the others in laughter and conversation.

In the days that followed, He Zhixing thoroughly enjoyed the warmth of his beloved women. Except for the pregnant Yufang, the other three hadn’t escaped his grasp, all submitting to his affection. For the first time, they marveled at their lover’s strength, realizing even three women couldn’t satisfy him—perhaps the harem needed to grow.

When He Zhixing had spare time, he taught them to cultivate together. With many spiritual herbs and the help of the wooden carving beauties, the four women gradually became more elegant and their skin glowed like jade.

Aunt Zhang had fallen for this young man who gave her everything. She wondered how she would face Ling’er and Yan’er when they returned—should she confess? Loving this boy was a wild act; could one family really share his love?

Lost in thought, she was startled as He Zhixing gently embraced her, stroking her furrowed brow. “Don’t overthink it. I know you’re worried about how to face them when they come back. Trust Ling’er and Yan’er to understand,” he whispered, kissing her forehead and holding her quietly.

The four women, along with Lai Madman, cultivated together, and soon all made great progress. He Zhixing’s company and clothing store flourished, opening two more branches and attracting franchisees.

He also scouted for storefronts in the city, finally finding a promising spot on Xianghua Road—a small shop at the corner, adjacent to a large supermarket, facing the main city street, with a plaza opposite and the big river running below.

He Zhixing wanted the shop to be secure and sturdy, with comprehensive safety measures and a top-tier secret treasure room. He managed the renovations, running back and forth, consulting Su Mei about the licenses needed to open a collectibles store.

Two months later, with the renovations complete and all paperwork in order, the city’s first collectibles shop officially opened. On opening day, many came to celebrate, including leaders from city departments, the mayor, and even the chairman of the political consultative conference. Hearing the news, officials flocked to attend.

Even the television station sent reporters to cover the store and the officials. He Zhixing’s Nuofeng Treasure House became famous overnight. On opening day, besides his four women and Lai Madman, he also hired three or four helpers, but still struggled to keep up with the crowds.

The shop’s collection was initially modest—only second and third series old banknotes, ancient copper coins, jewelry, and bracelets. He Zhixing didn’t dare display the silver treasures, wary of gossip, but showcased the blue-and-white lady moon-worship jar as the store’s centerpiece.

Though the shop wasn’t large, its displays of old coins, copper money, silver dollars, porcelain, and more filled the glass cabinets amply. In the future, He Zhixing planned to continue his treasure hunts, gradually expanding the collection.